Yarn carrier and spool brake mechanism therefor



June 6, 1939. E. F. HATHAWAY' ET AL 2,161,762

CHANISM THEREFOR I YARN CARRIER AND SPOOL BRAKE ME Original Filed Jan.

Patented June 6, 1939 YARN CARRIER AND SPOOL BRAKE MECH- ANISM THEREFOR Edgar F. Hathaway, Wellesley, and Walter Bixby,

Dorchester, Mass., assignors to Shawmut Engineering Company, Dorchester, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Original application January 12, 1938, Serial No. 184,618. Divided and this application May 27, 1938, Serial No. 210,420

7 Claims.

Our present invention relates to yarn carriers or so called tube frames for Axminster and like looms, and more particularly aims to provide improved means for braking the yarn supply spools of such carriers. This application is a. division of our copending application, Serial No. 184,618, filed January 12, 1938.

In the drawing, illustrating by way of example certain embodiments of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a view partly in front elevation and partly in vertical section showing one end of a yarn carrier or tube frame and associated loom' parts including the carrier chain and the transfer clutch at one side of the loom;

Fig. 2 is a top plan of the frame or carrier of Fig. 1, with no spool in place;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section as on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Figs. 4 and 5 are perspective views respectively of the free end of the leaf spring for braking the spool and of a detachable brake shoe holder;

Figs. 6 and 7 are detail sections on the lines 66 and I--l of Fig. 2;

Figs. 8 to 11 inclusive illustrate a modified brake assembly, Fig. 8 being a cross section substantially centrally across the. end of the brake spring seen in plan in Fig. 9, and Figs. 10 and 11 being a top plan and side elevation of a detachable pad for mounting on the spring of Fig. 9; and

Figs. 12 and 13 are views corresponding to Figs. 10 and 11 showing another construction of detachable brake pad.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 3, and particularly Fig. 1, wehave there shown one end portion of a yarn carrier or tube-frame having as its main frame element a tubular sheet-metal bar 2. The row of tuft guides or tubes 3 is secured along the front face of the carrier in any known or preferred manner, as by the attaching strip 4.

The carrier suspending means as illustrated comprises a suspension hanger or ear assembly of the general type of Hathaway and Bixby Patent 1,861,856, and in respects not otherwise herein mentioned it may be similarly constructed as in said patent. This suspension assembly includes an inner or bearing bracket 5 having an angular foot 6 received in the end of the carrier bar 2 and secured against the upper wall of the latter as by screws or the like I. The upper end of this bearing bracket 5 is slotted for passage ofthe journal 8 of a yarn spool 9 having the usual annular end flange or head I0.

Outside the bearing bracket 5 is an outer or chain-engaging bracket II having at its upper portion an offset and upturned extension or blade l2 adapted to enter the links of the carrier chains, one of which is represented in section at I3. At its lower portion this outer bracket II has an angularly inturned foot ll secured in the end of the carrier bar 2, against its bottom wall. The chain-engaging bracket II has an elongated vertical slot Ila at its central portion, from a 4 point below the top .wall of the carrier bar and up to and partly out on the offset or blade portion I2. The hook latch I5 is set in said slot, wherein it is pivotally movable between its fully released position as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and an outward or chain-engaging position in which the upper hooked end I6 of the latch is engaged over the top of the adjacent inner portion of the chain link I3, for releasably suspending the carrier or frame as a whole. An aperture I5a in the latch prevents interference by the latter with the spool journal when the latch is in its'inner or released position illustrated.

Said hook latch I5 extends downwardly to a position opposite the end of the carrier bar 2 where it is formed with an eye-like portion ll for receiving a retaining pin I8 passed through it after the latch I5 has been inserted through the lower portion of the slot I la in the bracket member II. The inwardly projecting loop or eye portion ll of the hook latch is adapted to fulcrum against the convex or exterior angle of the inner or bearing bracket 5, whereby the main load on the suspension hook or latch I5 is through wide fulcral bearing surfaces of the looped projection I1 and the angular portion of the bearing bracket 5, rather than on the retaining pin I8.

Referring still to Fig. 1, the bearing proper for the spool journal 8 is provided by an annular member I9 on a bearing latch or keeper 20. At a lower portion of the latter is an inwardly offset cup 2| for seating in a corresponding recess in the bearing bracket 5 and providing a seat for a realtively light compression spring 22 between the keeper 20 and the adjacent inner face of the hook latch I5. As in our parent application the chain-penetrating blade I2 of the outer bracket is formed with a laterally offset guide or projection 25 adapted to cooperate with the chain links substantially to reduce objectionable rela- 30 on the upper face of each end portion of the carrier bar 2. At its inner end this spring is removably or otherwise anchored to the bar as by the screws 3|, Fig. 2. The spring 33 is inclined upwardly and outwardly, terminating in a foot underlying the head I. of the rotatably mounted spool. Said foot carries a brake shoe or pad for engagement with the circumferential surface of the spool head.

In accordance with the present invention this shoe or pad unit is made readily demountable, for repair and replacement. Referring now to Figs. 4 to 7, which illustrate the construction as in Figs. 1 to 3 upon a larger scale, the foot 32 of the brake spring 33 is bowed to conform generally to the curvature of the spool head. At its ends are upturned flange elements 33 and 3|, one of which, the flange element 33 in this instance, is notched or recessed as at 34a in Fig.

'4, for cooperation with a demountable holder seen separately in Fig. 5 and indicated as a whole by the numeral 35. This holder for the pad or shoe proper is curved to conform to the foot 32 of the brake spring 30. At one end it hasa bendable tongue 36 for seating in the notch 33a of the flange element 33 and adapted to be turned down over and secured under the edge of the foot 32, as seen in Figs. 2 and 3. At its opposite end the holder 35 has a cross piece 31 including oppositely disposed tabs or cars 33, 33 for turning down around the adjacent edge portions of the foot. The holder is of a length to be received on the foot 32 of the brake spring with said crosspiece 31 inside the flange 33 of the foot.

Along the sides of the holder are upturned lips 33 adapted to be pressed inwardly into clamping engagement with the pad or shoe element proper, indicated by the numeral 43, in the manner best seen in Fig. 7. This pad or shoe 40 may be formed of any suitable antifriction material such for example as felt, leather or the like. The demountable pad holder enables the pad element easily to be removed and replaced, a fresh pad being inserted into the holder, or the pad or shoe unit including both the holder and the pad proper being replaced by a similar unit, whichever may be more convenient.

. Generally a supply of assembled holder and pad units will be kept available in the weave room for quick replacement purposes and the discardbe used with the pad and holder units of said figures or with the directly mounted pads to be referred to, or the notch 34a may be omitted if such interchangeable use is not desired. Referring to Figs. 8 to 13, the foot 32 is provided with oppositely disposed keyholeslots l2, l3 for removably receiving buttons 43 projecting at the under face of the pad or shoe 45. The latter, as shown in Figs. 10 and 11, is a unitary device wherein the buttons 44 are integral, the pad as a whole being moulded or otherwise formed of a suitable anti-friction plastic or other composition such as a moulded rubber or rubber compound. for example as known commercially under the mark or name Neoprene."

In Figs. 12 and 13 we have shown another form of pad 33 cooperable with the slotted attaching formations of the foot of Figs. 8 and 9. In this instance the buttons 41 which may be of metal or other material have their inner ends anchored as by rivets 43 or the like embedded in the pad body. The latter may be formed of leather, fibrous material or other serviceable anti-friction substance.

It will be understood that the loaded spool or spools are installed on the carriers, the end journal such as 3 of Fig. 1 being located in the receiving bearing of the keeper 23 associated with the bearing bracket 3. In so installing the spools it is frequently convenient for the operator to guide the spool head on the brake spring 33, sliding it along the latter to engage the spool Journal in its bearings. Heretofore such procedure would bring the spool head abruptly up against the brake pad, interfering with entering the journal into its bearings on the suspension assembly and disturbing the pad or disiodging it from the brake spring 33. Accordingly we have herein provided guide means for assisting in mounting the spool and acting to protect the brake pad element against the action referred to. Said means as illustrated comprises an upwardly and outwardly inclined rib or projection 43 at the upper face of the brake spring 33, lengthwise of the latter and terminating adjacent the inner edge of the pad element, at a level the same as or slightly above that of the pad, said guide means being symmetrically disposed transversely of the brake spring. A spool moved outwardly along the latter accordingly is elevated to a level to bring its journal opposite the bearings therefor and to avoid objectionable interference with the pad unit such as resulting from the previous abutting action mentioned.

The brake spring 33 as illustrated is adapted for cooperation with spool heads of diiferent diameters. Let it be assumed for example that the spool of Fig. 1 is of the common size having a spool head of 2% inches diameter. Another common size of head is that of 3% inches diameter. With the smaller size of spool, as shown in full lines in the drawing, the brake spring 33 is provided with a readily removable fulcrum element 53, Figs. 1 and 2, illustrated as a disc or button located under a cooperating flat portion ii of the brake spring and of a height or thickness to elevate the outer end portion of the latter into proper operative engagement withthe spool head In of the sire illustrated. This fulcrum member 50 may be held in place as by means of a boss 52 at its upper face received in an aperture in the spring and having its upper end turned over sufliciently to hold the member 50 in place but permitting it readily to be removed when desired. For use with the larger spool the fulcrum member 50 is detached, whereupon the brake spring assumes the lower portion such as represented by the dotted lines in Fig. 1, for proper cooperation with such larger spool head.

It is found in practice that the spool heads are not always true or accurately centered, particularly after considerable service, eccentricities up to of an inch being not infrequent. Heretofore the brake shoe supporting springs, such as 15 the member 30 hereof, have been relatively stiff, such that a tensioning displacement of a; of an inch at the useful position of the spring (that is, when bearing against the spool head) had a corresponding increased pressure or weighting factor of about one-half pound. Hence with spool head eccentricities such as mentioned the pressure of the shoe on the spool head often varied by a halfpound or more. To overcome this, and to afford a substantially uniform braking pressure despite variations n the spool heads we have approximately doubled the length of the spring 30, as compared to corresponding previous elements, making it at least about twice the diameter of the smaller spool heads, such as the 2% inch size of the full-line showing of Fig. l, or approximately one-quarter the length of a three-quarter or 27 inch spool. Further, the fulcrum 50 is located remotely from the free or shoe-carrying end of the spring, about one-third the distance from the fastening screws 3| to the shoe 40. Between this fulcrum or support 50 and the screws the spring may have a portion of reduced width, as at 53, increasing its resiliency in that region. Moreover, in the construction and arrangement as described, wherein the member 50 provides a fulcrum at the supported portion 5| of the spring, down pressure on the shoe tends to raise the spring at its portion 53, between the screws and said member 50, further contributing to the resiliency of the spring as a whole. As a result the shoe pressure is made substantially uniform under all operating conditions; a spool head variation or eccentricity of say of an inch causes a pressure variation of but a fraction of an ounce as compared to a half-pound or greater variation heretofore.

The described brake mechanism including the parts numbered 30 to 53 inclusive is adapted for use in connection with yarn carriers and their spools of various types and constructions. They are, however, particularly suited for use in combination with yarn carriers or tube frames wherein means is provided for augmenting and, reliev ing the brake pressure at certain times, such for example as disclosed and claimed in our parent application previously referred to. As more fully set out in said parent case, a relatively strong braking action on the spool is desirable when the carrier or frame is suspended on the chains, while a less retarding and tensioning pressure on the spool is desired during the drawing off of the yarn ends for incorporation into the fabric. At such latter times, however, the spool or spools should be sufiiciently retarded to avoid objection able looping, slackness or other irregularity in the yarns.

For this purpose we have illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 a plunger 60 adapted to engage and press upon the under face of the brake spring 30. As more fully described in the parent application this plunger, which operates in an appropriate aperture in the top wall of the carrier bar 2, extends loosely through upper and lower guide collars 62, 63 positioned within the carrier bar and receiving between them a coil spring 61. The hook latch l5 of the suspension assembly has an inward extension or arm 68 at its lower end having a forked portion overlying the upper guide collar 62.

When the tube frames or carriers are in suspended position on the chains the latches l5 are in their normal or outer position in which their upper hooked ends l6 engage over the top of the adjacent link of the chain. In such position the arm 68 at the lower end of the latch is swung up toward the top of the carrier bar, allowing the coil spring to expand and to'energize the plunger, pressing it into active pressure-augmenting engagement with the brake spring 30. As the frames come around to yarn presenting position each is engaged and taken from the chains by the transfer mechanism or clutches,-one main element of which is indicated at 10 in Fig. 1. The construction and arrangement is such, as more fully described in the parent application, that the normal operation of the transfer mechanism serves also to release or de-energize the spring plunger 60, so that the braking pressure on the yarn spools is automatically diminished. As the latch I5 is moved inward by the transfer mechanism, to the position illustrated in Fig. 1, the operating arm 68 at its lower end depresses the upper guide collar 62, the latter being movable separately from the plunger itself. In this manner the plunger is unloaded and left in a floating or de-energized position. Desirably there is a calculated amount of take-up or lost motion between the latch l5, its operating arm 68 and the plunger mechanism, such that the spring 61 remains effective on the latter and is released but partially if at all until the hook latch I5 is completely disengaged from the carrier chain, a reverse action taking place during replacementof the carrier onto the chains, so that the augmented braking pressure again becomes effective prior to complete release of the hook latch l5 from the transfer clutch 10.

The various parts are readily demountable from the carrier bar, for attention or renewal. With the larger size of spool, such as corresponding to the dotted-line position of the spring 30 in Fig. l, a shorter plunger 60 may be substituted for that illustrated, as is easily accomplished in the plunger unit and suspension assembly as disclosed.

Our invention is not limited to the particular embodiments herein illustrated or described, its scope being pointed out in the following claims.

We claim:

1. Ina yarn-carrier or tube-frame, a spool braking device comprising a brake pad for engaging a spool head, spring means for supporting the pad, including a holding foot underlying the latter, a buttonhole formation in said foot and a button at the under face of the pad for reception by said formation, for removably positioning the pad on the spring means.

2. A spool braking device for a yarn carrier or tube-frame according to claim 1, wherein the pad and its connecting button are integrally formed of moulded material.

3. A spool braking device fora yarn carrier or tube-frame according -to claim 1, wherein the pad comprises a body of anti-friction material and the button is separately formed and aflixed to the pad.

4. In a yarn-carrier or tube-frame including a main bar having means for rotatably mounting a yarn spool, a longitudinal leaf spring underlying the spool position and demountably connected at one end portion to the bar, a brake pad at the free end of the spring, for engaging a spool head, a removable rigid support for the spring between the latter and the adjacent upper face of the bar, said support being located' at a position spaced from the connected portion of the spring by about one-third the distance from said portion to the brake pad, and means leaf spring for operatively supporting the brake pad at one end,'said spring extending lengthwise the carrier bar at the upper face thereof,

having a length at least about twice the diameter of the spool head, and being secured to the bar at its end remote from the brake pad, and

- said spring provided adjacent its secured end with a portion of increased resiliency tending to compensate for tension variations at the brake pad end of the spring, whereby the pad pressure is substantially uniform despite irregularities of the spool head.

6. A spool-retarding device for yarn-carriers or tube-frames, said device comprising an elongated spring arm for attachment at one end portion to the main bar of such frame, with the tree end of the arm adjacent the periphery of a head a yarn spool rotatably mounted on the frame, a holding foot formed at said free end of the arm and comprising a laterally projecting integral member of approximately rectangular shape bowed to conform to the spool ,brake pad, said holder proportioned and curved to seat on said holding foot between the flange elements 'thereof and having at spaced lateral points bendable tongues adapted to be turned down and reversely around adjacent edge portions of the supporting ioot to attach the holder thereto, a brake pad of anti-friction nfateriai shaped and proportioned for removable reception on said demountable holder, and upturned lips at opposite edge portionsoi the latter for releasable clamping engagement with the ad- Jacent side faces oi the pad.

7. In a yam-carrier or tube-frame, a spool braking device comprising a brake element inperiphery, said foot having upstanding flange elements at opposite sides thereof for abutting corresponding side portions of the brake element;

to confine the latter between them, and releasable interengaging connections between the holding foot and brake element positively interconnecting them and securing the brake element on the foot between its flange elements with capacity for ready detachment from it for replacement or renewal purposes.

.EDGAR F. HA'I'HAWAY. WALTER BIXBY. 

